Letter to the Editor: Keep Dale at Dale

At its 5 p.m. meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, the School Building Committee (SBC) will vote on a location for the replacement of the current Dale Street School.

The two locations proposed are the current location at Dale Street, or a new location behind Wheelock School off Elm Street. In either case, the building will be designed the same—the pure building costs are identical. However, one location has additional costs to the town of between $2 to $4 million more, will significantly increase traffic and density in a smaller residential neighborhood, creates greater congestion and density around an actively used open space and recreational area, and moves the school 1.3 miles (approx. a 26-minute walk) from town center at a time when downtown businesses could use support. The current Dale location is less than a 10-minute walk (.5 miles) to town center.

The town-wide master plan resident feedback showed that open space/recreation, a vibrant downtown and reducing taxes/fiscal pressures were all crucial items for the town to consider and promote. Building a new school at Wheelock is not only $2 to $4 million more, but works directly against all those stated interests.

What’s not included in that additional premium for Wheelock is the cost of keeping Dale on Medfield books, and that includes $5 to $10 million for refurbishment for other purposes, so the total additional cost for building at Wheelock is bordering on $15 million.

We enthusiastically support, and would vote to support, a new Dale Street School…at Dale St. It is needed and, frankly, overdue. However, we would not vote to support a new school at Wheelock for an additional $15 million. Wheelock is the wrong location, more expensive, more disruptive, and an unneeded overreach. We also believe there are a significant number of people who share this view, as evidenced by the survey showing the Dale St. location is preferred.

The decisions made on this project have major implications for future plans in Medfield, as well as on the taxes we pay. If we do not make the reuse of Dale part of this school project which allows for state money to be put toward it, the town will be on the hook for renovation or total demolition.

We write this now, before SBC and Selectmen vote, so they can consider the consequences. If SBC is willing to risk this project by pushing through a more controversial location (Wheelock) at a significantly higher cost, and with much greater disruption to the town, it will need to accept responsibility if it doesn’t pass at Town Meeting.

We have one chance to get the project approved by voters, and most importantly, to get MSBA reimbursement money. Dale at Dale is the option most likely to receive widespread support at town meeting and will meet broader town needs. Doing otherwise significantly risks getting project approval, and with that, loss of MSBA funding, and/or a significantly delayed new school opening.

Dale at Dale is the smart, fiscally responsible choice for the Medfield community. Like or follow the Dale at Dale Facebook page to stay up to date on key advocacy steps.

Robert Herbstzuber, 7 Cross St.

Jerry Potts, 7 Curve St.

(Views are the authors' own and do not reflect any town committee on which either one may serve.)